Attempted
动词过去式指已经做出的一次尝试(attempted to call);法律与新闻语境中 attempted murder 指“谋杀未遂”。作形容词时修饰尚未成功的行为。
- “She attempted to fix the leak before the plumber arrived.” (水管工来之前,她试着把漏水修好。)
- “He attempted the climb twice and finally succeeded.” (他试了两次攀登,最后成功了。)
- “Police charged him with attempted robbery.” (警方以抢劫未遂罪名起诉他。)
来自拉丁语 temptare(试探、尝试),经古法语 attempter 进入英语,与 tempt、temptation 有远亲关系。
at-(向)+ tempt(试)+ -ed(过去式/分词);形容词用法由分词直接转用。
新闻报道中 attempted 常与犯罪、袭击等搭配,语气严肃;日常口语 attempted to 则较中性,仅表示“试过但没一定成功”。
- 固定搭配: “attempted suicide” (自杀未遂), “attempted escape” (逃跑未遂), “attempted solution” (尝试性方案)
- 动词原形: attempt;名词: attempt
attempt 是“试一把”,加 -ed 就是“已经试过了”;法律里的 attempted 记住“没做成但有过企图”。
“Jake attempted to bake bread for the first time; the loaf was flat, but everyone applauded the effort.” (杰克第一次试着烤面包,成品扁扁的,但大家还是为他的努力鼓掌。)